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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,500.00| Rating: 9

Pros:

Sharp, Lightweight for a 2.8 lens, good AF

Cons:

No IS, a little soft in the corners

This lens just does not get enough respect. I have waffled between this lens and a canon 300 2.8 v1. Finally decided to give this a go because of the used price. Initially had about the same results as the SLRgear review which is ok but not in the Canon league. but after I adjusted the MFA the center sharpness is outstanding now. Took a +20 MFA but wow what a difference. I wonder if the SLRgear review made a similar adjustment. For the price of these used it is a killer bargain and very competitive with the Canon on picture quality.

To be clear though, it does not focus as fast, although close, and it is softer in the corners than the Canon, and a big deal to some is it does not have IS.

I have only played with the Canon V2 once, it is just better all around.

In conclusion, I really like this lens, very competent for the price and a sleeper in this segment in my opinion.

gary1952

Registered: May 2012Posts: 3

Sigma 300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO review by gary1952

Review Date: 9/28/2013

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $3,000.00| Rating: 5

Pros:

Small, compact, easy to use, fairly sharp

Cons:

No extras what so ever. Mine is for Pentax and screw AF

I own this lens in the Pentax mount and used it for about two years. I then moved to Canon and bought the 300 IS and now the Caono 300 II lens.
First I am comparing against the Canon lenses. The Canon 300 II has no equal IMO. Rarely use the Sigma lens now.
It is a good lens. Without a T.C. it is very good. I get nice fairly sharp shots. And with minimum sharpening it is definitely usable. To get professional quality photos.
I totally disagree with the other reviewer. With a T.C. the quality no matter what F stop is unacceptable for me. It looses the sharpness required for birding. With the 2X it is not even in the hunt. Horrible quality. I have read many reviews about this lens. Most just rave about it. For birding it is a non starter period for me.
I personally did not like the Canon 300 IS for birding either. The Canon 300 II changed all that. It is the first lens I am happy with. For birding. A great all around-er that takes T.C.'s fairly good and AF excels with pro body's.
I Have tons of pics with the Sigma 300.

Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Total Spent: $1,100.00| Rating: 10

Pros:

Very Very sharp, great colour, fast AF, "cheap"

Cons:

Not weather sealed

Probably the best lens i have ever used. Sharp at f2.8, and even sharp at f4 with a 1.4 x TC, with the sigma 2x you only need to stop down 2/3 to f7.1 to get exceptable images.

The bokeh is creamy smooth, the contrast is good and the colour rendition has none of the old sigma yellow cast.

Though lacking VR/IS and weather sealing for the price it is more than worth not having these. Both the canon and the nikon are several thousand more.

AF is fast, though not lightening like, but more than capable for tracking birds in flight. AF accuracy is ok, my copy does tend to front focus a little. Without the TC's lockon is SURE with the 2x TC it does sometimes hunt.